HEC Montréal and The Conference Board of Canada announce the creation of the Institut du Québec

MONTREAL, Feb. 19, 2014 /CNW/ - HEC Montréal and The Conference Board of Canada have announced a new partnership to establish the Institut du Québec (IdQ). This alliance will enable the two organizations to combine their expertise to help address and propose solutions to the competitiveness issues facing Quebec.

The Institut du Québec will draw upon the credibility and visibility that The Conference Board of Canada and HEC Montréal bring to public debate because of their reputations for comprehensive, independent, and non-partisan analysis.

Mr. Raymond Bachand, strategic advisor at Norton Rose Fulbright, will lead the IdQ as its President. With a rich history in Quebec politics and extensive experience in dealing with key fiscal and economic issues affecting the province, Mr. Bachand welcomes the challenge. "This is a real opportunity to break new ground, fill some knowlege gaps, and help propel Quebec towards a more competitive and productive future," he says.

The Institut du Québec will be based at HEC Montréal. Ms. Mia Homsy will be the business director of the IdQ and Dr. Robert Gagné, a professor at HEC Montréal's Institute of Applied Economics, will lead the research program. The IdQ will not have its own research team but will call upon the researchers of HEC Montréal and The Conference Board of Canada.

The Institut du Québec will be in a position to carve out its place in the public policy debate in Quebec, through its expert insights and evidence-based and rigorous studies as well as its ability to bring various stakeholders together. Its intent is to provide public and private sector authorities with the tools needed to make more informed decisions.

Mr. Michel Patry, Director of HEC Montréal, is excited: "This partnership will combine the strengths of our top calibre researchers and will uphold the values of rigour and independence that we both hold in such high regard. I am confident that the Institut du Québec will contribute to raising the level of public debate and help Quebec to overcome the major challenges in the years ahead."

Dr. Daniel F. Muzyka, President and CEO of The Conference Board of Canada says, "as the Conference Board extends its reach across Canada, I'm thrilled that we now have a strong presence in Quebec, working alongside a partner like HEC Montréal. Together, we'll be better able to address the policy needs and challenges of this province, within the larger context of Canada and beyond."

The IdQ will begin by consulting with stakeholders to identify the top priorities. It is anticipated that the province's demographic profile, fiscal sustainability, and productivity performance will be priority issues.

While the research plan is still under development, it will include a range of topics such as revitalizing the labour force and skills development, promoting capital investment and innovation, improving health practices, and supporting infrastructure. Other focus areas include personal and corporate taxation, natural resources and energy, commerce and exports and northern development.

HEC Montréal
A world-class French-language business school with an emphasis on multilingual teaching, HEC Montréal has over 12,000 students and trains more than 7,000 executives and managers from all industries every year. The School holds numerous accreditations and offers some 40 academic programs at all levels of university education. With 264 professors and researchers trained at the world's most prestigious universities, HEC Montréal boasts cutting-edge management teaching and research. Some fifty research units, including 26 chairs—7 of them Canada Research Chairs—give the School its reputation for innovation, attracting students from close to 140 countries. HEC Montréal was Canada's first business school and has trained over 71,000 students in all fields of management since its founding in 1907.
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The Conference Board of Canada
The Conference Board of Canada is Canada's leading independent, not-for-profit think tank. Our research, conferences, and education bring together people and ideas from across disciplines and across sectors. We help Canadians make better decisions for themselves, their organizations and our country.
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SOURCE: Conference Board of Canada

For further information:

please contact:
Julie Lajoye
Media Relations Advisor, HEC Montréal
Office #: 514 340-7320 or mobile: [phone] or [e-mail]

Nujma Bond
Director of Communications, The Conference Board of Canada
Mobile: [phone] or [e-mail]